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03 December 2020
BQP had a record number of finalists in this week’s National Pig Awards, resulting in our farming partners clinching the top prize in four individual categories.
The live-streamed event was as exciting as ever and although none of the winners could be there in person it did not take away the glory and glamour of the occasion.
Finisher of the Year went to Paul Howland, one of our long-standing BQP growing farmers in Suffolk. Paul was recognised for his impressive performance figures and drive. In addition, all three finalists in this category were BQP farmers
The Herd Productivity award went to R&C Mellor who run a 950-sow breeding unit in Norfolk. They were noted for their consistently impressive performance figures which are well above the top 10% in the country. The business is also frequently top performing breeder of the month in our BQP Bulletin.
Iwona Rosa, from Norfolk Free Ranges, won the Unit Manager of the Year. Iwona manages NFR’s Skillington Farm which includes a 700-sow GP herd, producing breeding stock. Iwona’s ability to motivate staff and get stuck in herself was noted by judges.
And finally, North Farm Livestocks’ Josh Brewster was awarded Young Pig Farmer. Josh works on one of the company’s breeding farms in North Norfolk and has worked for NFL since he was 16. He has undertaken various training and is currently on the AHDB management development course. Josh also trains a number of new recruits placed on the farm.
Andrew Saunders, Pilgrim’s UK Agriculture Director, explained: “We are proud of all the winners and what they have achieved. Our vision to be the best in our industry is a core principle and something we are continuously aiming for. To have our farming partners hard worked recognised is amazing and we hope to get even more recognition next year. I want to personally say well done and congratulations to all the winners and finalists.”
The awards have become established as the premier event in the pig industry calendar. The honours recognise and reward excellence, foster innovation and inspire creativity and information sharing. It is the only awards exclusive to the British pig industry. The event has gone from strength to strength over the years and previous winners have set incredibly high standards for the rest of the industry to follow.
BQP breed and rear over 1 million pigs a year using industry-leading production systems, including outdoor born, straw-finished, RSPCA Freedom Food Assured, free range and organic. With around 30% of the UK market share, this makes us the UK’s largest pig farming business. BQP has supplied high welfare British pork to the major retailers in the UK for 40 years, since 1979.
Here is the full list of 2020 winners:
Overall and outdoor pig producer of the year – Wayland Farms
Indoor pig producer of the year – Bridge House Farm
Finisher of the year – Paul Howland, MP & PM Howland
Herd productivity award – R & C Mellor
Innovation of the year – White Syke Farm (freedom farrowing designs)
Marketing initiative of the year – Cwm Farm Charcuterie Products
NPA allied member of the year – Yorkshire Farmers Livestock Marketing
Pedigree breeder of the year – Ron Fieldhouse, R.W Fieldhouse
Special achievement of the year – Lee Thompson, Wayland Farms (for ‘Flat White Chat’ podcasts)
Stockman of the year – Dawid Wawrowski, Karro Food Group
Unit manager of the year – Iwona Rosa, Norfolk Free Range
Young farm vet of the year – Max Wood, Larkmead Veterinary Group
Young pig farmer of the year – Josh Brewster, North Farm Livestock
To learn more about the winners and the awards, visit: https://www.nationalpigawards.co.uk/2020-winners/
If you are interested in working with BQP, please contact Mark Jagger on: Mark.Jagger@pilgrimsuk.com